SHILLONG, MAR 31: Three prominent ngos- KSU, FKJGP and HYNF- have threatened a ‘huge show-down’ on April 2 if the voter’s enrolment drive continues to be held in the office of the deputy commissioner of East Khasi hills district.
The ngos have sought immediate removal of the present East Khasi hills DC Sanjay Goyal for allegedly ‘over ruling’ and ‘disrespecting’ the decision and notification issued by the state government that such enrolment drives should be ‘conducted’ at block or village level.
“There will be a huge show-down if the DC continues to conduct the enrolment drive of voters in its office. We will be coming out in large number on that day to protest and ensure that no hearing takes place on that day,” KSU president Daniel Khyriem told newsmen at a press conference on Tuesday.
The decision to oppose the enrolment and also stage a showdown if the enrolment in the DC’s office continues was taken by the ngos after a recent notice issued by the DC despite the state government’s order.
The DC has fixed April 2 as the date of hearing and verification of the applicants hailing from Lyngkhat under Pynursla constituency.
Giving a warning, Khyriem said, “We should not be blamed if there is any breakdown of law and order. The DC should take the responsibility.”
Earlier, the KSU had protests on two consecutive days against the enrolment forcing the closure of the facilitation centre in the DC’s office for facilitating the voter’s enrolment drive.
Referring to a recent meeting held on March 26, with the state government after the protest, Khyriem said, “The government had reassured the delegation that necessary direction has been given to the DC to avoid holding of enrolment drive in his office.”
Khyriem said the state government had reiterated its commitment on the agreement made in 2012 that such enrolment drives should be conducted in the respective blocks or villages of the state.
But Khyriem informed that despite the agreement and reassurance from the state government, the DC recently issued a notice informing that enrolment drive would be conducted in the DC’s office for the applicants for voter’s ID from Pynursla Constituency.
Demanding the removal of Goyal, Khyriem said, “The adamant attitude of the DC is a clear indication of disrespecting the direction of the state government.”
“Such IAS officer should be removed and let the government replace him with an officer who is alive with the issue and concern of the people of the state,” Khyriem added.
Khyriem also questioned where is the illegality of the ngos demand on the issue and the DC alone has challenge the directive of the government by issuing the recent notice.
Khyriem said, “We also take this attitude of DC as open challenge not only to the NGOs but to indigenous community.”
The ngos alleged ‘conspiracy’ and ‘hidden agenda’ behind the action of the DC in enrolling people which according to them don’t have valid documents.
Khyriem further claimed that sources from Assam have revealed that many voters’ applicants have availed documents from those districts (in Assam) where infiltration is so ‘rampant’.
Stating if the objective of the drive is to enroll all citizens who have attained the age of 18 years, Khyriem questioned, “But seeing people above 50 years of age standing on a queue to get enrolled in Electoral Roll is a big question.”
Khyriem said that the union is firm that it will continue to protest if such enrolments are being held in the DC’s office.
According to Khyriem, the union is of the view that by holding such enrolment drives in the respective blocks, it will minimize and prevent the possibility of dubious voters from getting enroll in the Electoral Rolls of the state.
Khyriem felt that by having the enrolment drives at the block level or village level, the role of traditional heads will be crucial in identifying who are genuine and who are not genuine citizens of country and state. But, he said, the enrolment by the DC’s office gives room for manipulation by such doubtful applicants.- By Our Reporter
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